Social Auto – Localized Charm!

The
young designer duo has fabricated an auto rickshaw (a popular mode of
public transport across India) installation for Park by Zone Hotel in Jaipur
and its upcoming branch in Coimbatore.

The
brief given to them was precise: The auto rickshaw, to be installed in the
main lobby of the hotels, besides being a photo-op, should forge a social
connect between guests and the hotel.

.

Responding
to the innate mass-appeal of this Indian conventional transport vehicle,
informs Sarthak, they decided to mount a movable installation that
were embellished with craft items, colours and graphics of the
respective city. These autos could also be used as mini food vans or hotel
gift shops,” he conitnues.

.

Elaborating
on the process, Sahil and Sarthak first bought an old auto rickshaw, had the
somewhat-dilapidated vehicle repaired and repainted; and its original hood
replaced by an outdoor awning material. Enamel paint then helped adorn the main
body and fill in the decorative details. Bright shades of orange, blue and pink,
with occasional yellows or greens lent the final exhibit an arresting aura.

.

Regional
traditions, cuisine, architecture and people of Jaipur and Coimbatore inform
the make-up and define the two distinct entities. A cut-out of Jaipur’s iconic Hawa Mahal and a motif
representing Tamil Nadu’s popular folk dance, Kaman
Pandigai,
besides other graphics and elementary doodles associated with the two
cities, are the symbolic elements crafted out of wood, metal or fabric, or
simply redesigned and printed on vinyl sheets. While the driver’s seat is left
largely untouched, the passenger seat is used to create storage space. At the
back of the rickshaw, a pull-down shelf serves for display.

Sarthak Sengupta of Sahil & Sarthak Design Co.

While the auto-rickshaw has on
several earlier occasions been used as a symbolic regional motif, this
installation seems to draw attention to the versatility of the vehicle itself!